Health sector reform and tuberculosis control: the case of Zambia

SETTING: Zambia, 1995-1997. OBJECTIVE: To describe the process leading to the collapse of Zambia's National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP). DESIGN: A descriptive analysis of health sector reform in Zambia and its effects on the NTP during the period 1995-1997. RESULTS: By the end of 1997 the NTP had stopped functioning. The main reason was that external support had ended, while the National Strategic Health plan 1995-1999 had no budget for special programmes according to the policy to integrate these into the general health services. As a consequence, technical support for tuberculosis control to districts ended as staff was reduced to one officer responsible for the national coordination of AIDS/HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), tuberculosis and leprosy The most serious effect of the transition was the interruption of supplies of antituberculosis drugs in 1998. CONCLUSIONS: The experience in Zambia demonstrates the urgent need for constructive dialogue between 'health reformers' and 'disease controllers'. The aim of this dialogue would be to develop a model that ensures that tuberculosis patients are properly diagnosed and cured in countries that are embarking on a reform of their health services.